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POLITICO 44

House Democrats are still undecided about whether they will produce a fiscal 2011 budget resolution – despite significant movement in the Senate this week on the annual spending blueprint.

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) was vague over whether he had the votes to deal with a budget resolution, which would be filled with politically perilous amendment votes.

“We haven’t decided not to do a budget so we’ll have to cross the bridge when we come to it,” he said. “But we’re still hopeful. My hope is that we do a budget.”

The Maryland Democrat said last week that he and Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt (D-S.C.) “both believe that it would be important” to pass a budget but they’re unsure if Democrats have the votes to pass it through the lower body.

Republicans did not pass a budget resolution in 1998, 2002 2004 and 2006 – all election years.

Budget resolutions are non-binding blueprints for federal spending, but the process is fraught with political risks, namely votes on taxes and spending levels.

Meanwhile, Senate Democrats have begun crafting a five-year budget plan that would cap appropriations below President Barack Obama’s 2011 request and give the Finance Committee greater leverage to break the impasse over an estate tax on the wealthy.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) announced Monday that he anticipates beginning a markup as early as Wednesday. A meeting is set for Tuesday with committee members to test the waters.

House Democrats will watch how that plays out, eager for the Senate to make the first move.